Pivotal handle connection for a vacuum cleaner



Septr. 9, 1958 A. B. BRADLEY, JR

Y PIVOTAL HANDLE CONNECTION FOR A VACUUM CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1954 F'- 1 LA A Sept- 9 1958 A. B.y BRADLEY, JR 2,851,313 PIVOTAL. HANDLE CONNECTION FOR A VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 26, 1954 'A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www Sept. 9, 19,58 IA. B. BRADLEY, JR

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Addison Ballard Bradiey, Jr., Glenview, Ill., assigner, by mestre assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware .Implication May 26, 1951i, Serial No. 432,478

2 tClaims. (Cl. 39o-J3) This invention relates to an improved vacuum cleaner and specifically to Ia handle release mechanism for a vacuum cleaner.

A common type of vacuum cleaner is one that is propelled over the surface to be cleaned by means of an elongated handle. This handle is pivoted to the wheeled body of the vacuum cleaner and is capable of being oscillated throughout an extensive range of movement. Various means have been proposed for locking the vacuum cleaner in Various positions and particularly in a storage position in which the handle extends upwardly from the body of the vacuum cleaner. However, prior handle release devices have often been complicated, bulky, difficult to operate and uncertain in their operation. The invention set out herein provides a handle release that includes an operating lever that may be operated by the foot ofthe user of the vacuum cleaner.

Que ot the features of this invention is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a base member, a handle pivotally mounted on the base member, a detent carried by the handle and movable relative thereto, a retaining member adjacent to the handle engaged by the detent to hold the handle in a predetermined position, yielding means urging the detent toward said retaining member, and cam means movable relative to the detent having `a detent engaging portion operable to move the detent only part way out of engagement with said retaining member.

Another feature is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a base member,.a handle pivotally mounted on the base member, a retaining member adjacent to the handle pivot, a detent carried by the handle and movable relative thereto, yielding means normally urging the detent into engagement with the retaining member, the retaining member including a handle restraining portion engageable by the detent in one position of the handle to hold the handle relatively fixed and a handle movement retarding portion adjacentto said restraining portion over which the detent moves against the urging of the yielding means when the handle is moved away from said one position, and cam means movable relative to the detent having a detent engaging surface including a relatively sharply inclined first portion operable to move the detent away from the restraining portion on movement of the cam means and a second portion adjacent to but spaced outwardly of the rst portion for guiding the movement of the detent up to and beyond said retarding portion.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a base member, a handle pivotally mounted on the base member, a retaining member adjacent to the handle pivot, a detent carried by the handle and movable relative thereto, yielding means normally urging the detent into engagement with the retaining member, the retaining member incluiding a handle restraining portion engageable by the detent in one position of the handle to hold the handle relatively fixed and a handle movement retarding portion ad- Patented Sept. 9, 1958 2 jacent to said restraining portion over which the detent moves against the urging of the yielding means when the handle is moved away from said one position, a cam plate oscillatable relative to the detent having a detent engaging edge including a relatively lsharply inclined rst portion operable to move the detent away from the restraining portion on movement of the cam plate and a foot operable lever attached to the cam plate for movement thereof and a second portion adjacent to but spaced outwardly of the rst portion for guiding the movement of the `detent up to and beyond said retarding portion and with the second portion of the cam plate having its outer end spaced further from the axis of oscillation than its inner end so that pressure of the detent on this second portion tends to rotate the cam plate and foot lever to their initial positions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partly in sections for clarity of illustration, of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2. is a horizontal section taken substantially along line Z-Z of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged View similar to Fig. 1 showing the handle release in rotated position preparatory to moving the handle rearwardly of the body of the vacuum cleaner.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the handle release mechanism and a portion of the vacuum cleaner body.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially along line 6 6 of Fig. l.

The locking mechanism shown and 4described herein is essentially the same as that described and claimed in the co-pending 4application of A. B. Bradley, Jr., Serial No. 218,659, led March 31, 1951.

The vacuum cleaner shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a wheeled base member 10 having supporting wheels 11 thereon for supporting the vacuum cleaner on the surface to be cleaned and slightly elevated rear wheels for supporting the rear end of the cleaner when the handle is in horizontal position. On the top of the base member 10 there is located a covering casing 15 serving to enclose the motor, fan housing and other operating parts of the cleaner.

Mounted on the rear of the base member 10 and exposed by a cutout portion 15a of the casing is an inverted channel member 16 having spaced side portions 16a and 16b varranged parallel to each other and positioned substantially vertically. The main handle part 17 is removably held in a handle mounting 18 to provide the assembled handle. The lower end of the mounting 18 is provided with bifurcated portions 18a and 18b with the lirst portion 18a arranged adjacent to the channel portion 16a and the second portion 18b similarly arranged :adjacent to the channel portion 16b. The lower ends of these bifurcated portions are pivotally attached to the channel portions 16a .and 16b by means of pivot bolts 19 and 20.

The pivot bolts 19 and 20 are of elongated, cylindrical construction and have passageways of circular cross section 19a and 20a extending from end-to-end. These passageways are axially aligned and the pivot bolts extend outwardly from the corresponding side portions 16a and 1611 of the channel member 16. The inner ends 19b and Ztlfb of the bolts 19 and 29 are reduced somewhat in diameter and extend through openings in the side portions 16a and 16h. These inner ends are threaded and have threaded thereon nuts 21 and 22, each bearing against a washer 23 and 24. With this arrangement each pivot bolt 19 and is held firmly in position, thus each pivot bolt is iirmly attached to the channel 16 and the channel in turn is rmly attached to the vacuum cleaner by means of spaced bolts 25. As is shown in Fig. l, these bolts engage a at, horizontal plate 26 in the vacuum cleaner.

In order to retain the handle in any of .a plurality of positions, the channel member side portions 16a and 161; are constructed to serve as retaining members so that the channel 16 not only serves as a pivotal mounting for the handle but also aids in locking it in place. As shown in Figs. l and 2, each side portion 16a and 161) is provided with a plurality of successive concave portions 16C, 16d and 16e. Stop portions 16g are also provided located downwardly of the portions 16e. Each pair of corresponding concave portions is adapted to be engaged by a detent to retain the handle in a desired position.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings there are provided a pair of detents each engageable with one of the concave portions 16e` to 16e and the stop portions 16g1. The detents comprise a pair of parallel arms 26 and 27 pivotally mounted about an axle 28 held in the handle mounting 18 adjacent the tops of the channel members 16a and 16h. The ends of these arms 26 and 27 extend toward the front of the vacuum cleaner and are loosely connected by means of a cross-member 29. This crossmember extends through the arms 26 and 27 and is provided with rollers 30 and 31 adapted to roll over the top edges of these channel portions 16a and 16b when the handle is pivoted from one extreme position to the other. The rollers are held in contact with the edges by means of a single bifurcated spring 32 with the center 32e of the spring bearing upwardly against the inner surface of the handle mounting 18 with the arms of the spring wound around the axle 28 and having the extreme ends 32a and 32h bearing downwardly against the cross-member 29 adjacent the arms 26 and 27 to force the rollers 30 and 31 independently into engagement with the top edges of the channel portions 16a and 16b. As the rollers 30 and 31 are pressed into contact with these top edges they engage successively the concave portions 16e, 16d and 16e as the handle is moved from an upright toward a horizontal position so that the handle will be retained in either the horizontal or the upright position by engagement of the rollers with one of the sets of concave portions. As is shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, theiirst concave portions 16e are relatively deep so that the handle will be firmly in vertical storage position when the rollers engage these portions. The other concave portions are relatively shallow so that while the cleaner is being used, the rollers roll relatively easily over these intermediate portions.

The concave portions 16d permit easy movement of the handle in a relatively wide arc .during the cleaning operation. When the handle is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, a steady downward force on the handle lifts the front end of the cleaner so that it will pass over the edge of a rug or similar raised obstruction. However, a sharp downward force causes the rollers to move beyond the concave portions 16e without raising the front end of the cleaner.

As is illustrated in the embodiment shown in the drawings, each detent arm 26 and 27 is movable relative to the other to provide intimate contact of its roller with the corresponding locking member 16a or 16b. Thus the locking members and the concave portions may be inexpensively mass-produced with varying tolerances as the detents are automatically adjustable to any tolerance. Similarly the yielding means comprising the spring 32 is arranged `so that each portion 32a and 32b independently urges each detent into engagement with its locking member. These features plus the dual purpose channel member 16 serving as both a pivotal mounting means for the handle and a portion of the locking arrangement provide an inexpensive, easily manufactured construction giving a-irm and eiiicient locking arrangement.

Although only a single spring 32 is shown and described, it is obvious that two or more springs could be used in place of this single spring if desired. However, the single spring is preferred because of lower cost and ease of assembly. Furthermore, by providing a single spring, uniform force on the rollers 30 and 31 is more easily achieved.

The end of the cross-member 29 that passes through the arm 26 is reduced and provided with a bearing collar 33 upon which the roller 31 is mounted. The other end of the cross-member 29 is similarly provided with a second collar 34. With this arrangement the rollers 3i) and 31 are held securely in place and the assembly, including the member 29 is held securely on the ends of the parallel arms 26 and 27.

In order to release the handle lock from the position shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a handle release mechanism that is operated by an exterior lever 35. ln the embodiment shown, this is an oscillatable, foot operable lever provided with a tread portion 36, preferably of rubber or similar resilient vmaterial on its outer end.

The handle release mechanism includes a cylinder 37 open at both ends extending between the inner ends of the pivot bolts 19 and 20. This cylinder is rotatable relative to the bolts 19 and 20. The cylinder is removably attached by means of a pair of set screws 3S to a shaft 39 which forms a part of the lever 35. As is shown in Fig. 2, the lever including the shaft 39 is in the form of a crank adapted to be oscillated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 39.

The shaft 39 is adapted to extend through one of the pivot bolts 19 and 20 well into the other pivot bolt, as shown in Fig. 6. With this arrangement the inner surfaces of the hollow pivot bolts 19 and Z0 operate as bearing surfaces for the shaft 39 and thus for the entire lever assembly 35. The outer surfaces serve as bearings for the handle mounting 18.

Attached to the ends of the cylinder 37 inwardly of the inner ends of the pivot bolts 19 and 20, as by brazing or the like, are a pair of substantially parallel aligned cam plates 40. As is shown most clearly in Figs. l and 3, each cam plate 40 has a relatively sharply inclined iirst edge portion 40a spaced relatively close to the axis of rotation of the lever 39 and thus to the axes of the cam plates 40. This relatively sharply inclined first portion 40a is adapted to bear against the bottom part of an elongated cylinder 41 that is rotatably mounted on the cross member 29 and that extends between the ends 32a and 32h of the spring 32 as is shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6.

These first edge portions 40a of the cam 40 bear against this cylinder 41 when the handle is in upwardly extending storage position and when the lever 35 is in its normal non-operating position, all as shown in Fig. l. Each cam 40 has a second edge portion 40h next to the lirst portion 40a. The remainder of each cam plate 40 has a smoothly curved edge portion 40C extending from the second portion 4019 to the rear end of the cam. This rear end 40d of each cam plate is adapted to rest against the bottom portion 161l of the channel member 16 when the cam plates 40 and lever 35 are in their non-operating positions as shown in Fig. l. This lower end, therefore, serves as a stop for the handle release mechanism in its normally non-operative position. The other end of the path of movement of the release mechanism is determined by the tread portion 36 of the lever 35 bearing against a portion 10a of the wheeled base member 10 of the vacuum cleaner. This contact occurs when the lever has been depressed to its fullest extent as is shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

As was pointed out above, the cylinder 41 is contacted by the relatively steeply sloped rst cam portions lila when the handle is in its storage position. In this storage position the rollers 30 and 31 are within the relatively deep, concave edge portions 16C on the top edges of the side portions 16a and 16h of the inverted channel member 16. When it is desired to rotate the handle rearwardly to an operating position the lever 35 is depressed by pressing on the tread portion 36. This rotates the cam plates 40 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 3.

This rotation causes the steeply inclined portions 40a to turn the entire detent structure upwardly against the urging of spring 32 to the position shown in Fig. 3. When the handle is then rotated rearwardly the cylinder 41 rst rolls along the front parts of the second inclined portions 40b of the cam plates 40 and then moves up and over the projecting spurs 42 on the upper edges of the side portions 16a and 16b. These upwardly projecting spurs 42 have sloped sides that form a part of the concave portions 16e and 16d of the channel 16. Thus the rollers 30 and 31 are able to roll rather easily over the spurs 42.

When rearward movement of the handle has continued and the cylinder 41 again contacts these second inclined portions 40b of the cam plates 40 at the rear parts thereof, downward pressure of the ends of the spring 32 on the cylinder 41 and thus on the cam plates 40` rearwardly of the axis of rotation thereof causes the release mechanism to be rotated automatically in a clockwise position as shown in Fig. 3 to return the release mechanism including the cam plates 40 and lever 35 to their initial positions as shown in Fig. l. Thus no separate return movement is required by the operator as the release mechanism returns automatically to its initial position.

After the locking mechanism for the handle has been released as described above and the release mechanism has been returned to its normal non-operating position as shown in Fig. 1, the handle may then be rotated rearwardly to any desired position without undue force having been brought to bear on the handle. sired to return the handle to storage position, it is only necessary to rotate it upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 and in this position the rollers 30 and 31 will again rest in the relatively deep concave portions 16e` at the top edges of the sides' 16a and 16h of the channel member 16.

The handle release mechanism shown and described herein has a number of very important advantages. Thus the structure is quite simple, yet provides a positive means for releasing the locking mechanism for operation of the cleaner. Furthermore, the detent spring not only presses the detents against the retaining plates but also holds the detents against the cams so that the cams and the operating lever are held securely against any loose movement.

The detent spring also holds the detents against the cams so that the above described inclined surfaces on the cams causes the release mechanism including the cams to rotate when the handle approaches its locked position. 55

This rotation returns the release mechanism to its initial position automatically so that the detent again engages the stop portions of the retaining plates.

When it is de- The operating apparatus for moving the cam means including the lever 35 and structure cooperating therewith including the members 19, 241, 37 and cooperating structures are claimed in the co-pending application of Louis A. Mau, Serial No. 432,468, tiled May 26, 1954.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specied, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

l claim:

l. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a base member; a handle pivotally mounted on the base member; a retaining member adjacent to the handle pivot; a detent carried by the handle and movable relative thereto; yielding means normally urging the detent into engagement with the retaining member, the retaining member including a handle restraining portion engageable by the detent in one position of the handle to hold the handle relatively iiXed and a handle movement retarding portion adjacent to said restraining portion over which the detent moves against the urging of the yielding means when the handle is moved away from said one position; and cam means movable relative to the detent having a detent engaging surface including a relatively sharply inclined first portion operable to move the detent rapidly away from the restraining portion on movement of the cam means and a second portion adjacent to but spaced outwardly of the rst portion for guiding the movement of the detent up to and beyond said retarding portion.

2. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a base member; a handle pivotally mounted on the base member; a retaining member adjacent to the handle pivot; a detent carried by the handle and movable relative thereto; yielding means normally urging the detent into engagement with the retaining member, the retaining member including a handle restraining portion engageable by the detent in one position of the handle to hold the handle relatively lixed and a handle movement retarding portion adjacent to said restraining portion over which the detent moves against the urging of the yielding means when the handle is moved away from said one position; and cam means movable relative to the detent having a detent engaging surface including a relatively sharply inclined rst portion operable to move the detent rapidly away from the restraining portion on movement of the cam means, a second portion adjacent to but spaced outwardly of the rst portion and inclined less sharply than said inclination of the iirst portion for guiding the movement of the detent up to and beyond said retarding portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,161 Berg Oct. 15, 1940 2,226,365 Becker Dec. 24, 1940 2,271,536 Berg Feb. 3, 1942 

